Abstract: A head actuator design for a low profile tape drive is configured with a damping system for a head suspension system having flexure springs to accommodate a half-high form factor. The damping system employs hall sensors, for example, mounted on the head carriage that moves with the head carriage to provide position signals that are differentiated to form velocity signals used by a servo loop control system to dampen suspension system resonance. A flexible circuit routing is provided that is manageable for half-high form factors by combining the fine positioner loop and course positioner loop into a single loop, and preventing the head flexible printed circuit from contacting a top cover in the routing to a printed circuit board near the top cover.

Abstract: A head actuator assembly includes a coarse positioner base assembly that is mounted on a guide shaft and an anti-rotation shaft and provides increased structural rigidity due to a four-point support and spring loading of the coarse positioner base against the anti-rotation shaft. A two-part head-carriage and voice coil holder system permits different materials to be used for the head-carriage and the voice coil holder, obviating structural problems of a single-structured head-carriage and coil-holder system. A flexible printed circuit bracket eases manufacture and allows flexible printed circuits to be slid into the bracket and retained in place without the need for locating tabs and screws.

Abstract: A head actuator design for a low profile tape drive is configured with a damping system for a head suspension system having flexure springs to accommodate a half-high form factor. The damping system employs hall sensors, for example, mounted on the head carriage that moves with the head carriage to provide position signals that are differentiated to form velocity signals used by a servo loop control system to dampen suspension system resonance. A flexible circuit routing is provided that is manageable for half-high form factors by combining the fine positioner loop and course positioner loop into a single loop, and preventing the head flexible printed circuit from contacting a top cover in the routing to a printed circuit board near the top cover.

Abstract: A head actuator design for a low profile tape drive is configured with a damping system for a head suspension system having flexure springs to accommodate a half-high form factor. The damping system employs hall sensors, for example, mounted on the head carriage that moves with the head carriage to provide position signals that are differentiated to form velocity signals used by a servo loop control system to dampen suspension system resonance. A flexible circuit routing is provided that is manageable for half-high form factors by combining the fine positioner loop and course positioner loop into a single loop, and preventing the head flexible printed circuit from contacting a top cover in the routing to a printed circuit board near the top cover.

Abstract: A head actuator assembly includes a coarse positioner base assembly that is mounted on a guide shaft and an anti-rotation shaft and provides increased structural rigidity due to a four-point support and spring loading of the coarse positioner base against the anti-rotation shaft. A two-part head-carriage and voice coil holder system permits different materials to be used for the head-carriage and the voice coil holder, obviating structural problems of a single-structured head-carriage and coil-holder system. A flexible printed circuit bracket eases manufacture and allows flexible printed circuits to be slid into the bracket and retained in place without the need for locating tabs and screws.

Abstract: A head actuator assembly includes a coarse positioner base assembly that is mounted on a guide shaft and an anti-rotation shaft and provides increased structural rigidity due to a four-point support and spring loading of the coarse positioner base against the anti-rotation shaft. A two-part head-carriage and voice coil holder system permits different materials to be used for the head-carriage and the voice coil holder, obviating structural problems of a single-structured head-carriage and coil-holder system. A flexible printed circuit bracket eases manufacture and allows flexible printed circuits to be slid into the bracket and retained in place without the need for locating tabs and screws.

Abstract: A tape drive having a cartridge receiving area for receiving a cartridge containing a recording medium on a supply reel is disclosed. The tape drive has a take-up reel. The take-up reel includes a take-up rotatably mounted to the tape drive and a pair of flanges mounted on either side of the take-up hub. A magnetic read/write head is disposed between the cartridge receiving area and the take-up reel. A pair of fixed guide assemblies is disposed symmetrically about the magnetic read/write head. Each of the fixed guide assemblies has a fixed guide mount fixed to the tape drive, a fixed guide attached to a top of the fixed guide mount, and a spring/pressure pad having at least one pressure pad mounted to the fixed guide, wherein the pressure pad applies pressure to a top edge of the recording medium when the tape drive is operational. The tape drive also has a forward guide roller and a rearward guide roller disposed symmetrically about the magnetic read/write head.

Abstract: A head positioning apparatus for positioning a magnetic head in a multi-track tape drive is provided. The apparatus has a voice-coil, a movable carriage supporting the magnetic head and the voice coil, and a center magnetic pole housed in an interior of the voice coil. A pair of outer magnetic poles are positioned opposite each other about the voice coil. First and second flexures are each attached at opposing ends to the outer magnetic poles and in a central portion to the movable carriage. Each of the first and second flexures have one slot near where the first and second flexures are attached to the outer magnetic poles and a pair of slots positioned opposite each other about the area where the first and second flexures are attached to the movable carriage. The first and second flexures each have a plurality of reduced thickness areas and a plurality of increased thickness areas. Each of the increased thickness areas is positioned between adjacent ones of the reduced thickness areas.